Before Day 3

“13 entered OZ’s territory?”

When the prophecy declared that a new king would rise in this world, someone cynical had scoffed.

In a world where the old order had not yet been completely shattered, any new regime could only ever be the child of the old.

In truth, the leading candidates for the throne inherited their ‘outside’ power structures almost 그대로 inside as well.

Thus, under East Lord Lee Mok—who hailed from the information-strong eastern cities—were many agents skilled in espionage.

“Yes. It is certain.”

One of Lee Mok’s close aides added carefully.

“The Central territory remains sealed. No one has come out since.”

After a pause, the aide cautiously voiced his opinion.

“Only the Central Lord did not lose territory in the Day 2.5 sub-quest.”

“More precisely, he expanded it and was promoted to Count.”

“…I have no face to show you, my lord.”

Strictly speaking, the strategy the aide had proposed during Day 2.5 had not been wrong, and Lee Mok knew it.

But Lee Mok did not say, “This was not your fault.”

“Why did you allow 13 to enter OZ’s territory?”

“My, my apologies, my lord.”

“You must have assumed OZ would kill 13.”

It was not an unreasonable assumption.

The OZ Lee Mok knew was exactly that kind of man.

“He eats when he pleases, sleeps when he pleases, kills when he pleases. A beast in human skin.”

That was OZ.

Despite possessing abilities rivaling the other Five Stars, few believed he would ever become king.

“And thus, he has no faction.”

Among the Five Stars, OZ alone had not a single subordinate.

“Who would willingly serve beneath that madman? One second he laughs in delight, the next he turns and snaps your neck on a whim.”

If he had merely been violent or eccentric, it would have been manageable.

But that hedonistic monster was impossible to read, impossible to appease.

“And yet 13 walked into Central territory of his own accord.”

“Is there no possibility he truly died?”

“Hwachung. Does OZ look that clever to you?”

Silence fell.

Lee Mok twisted the corner of his mouth.

“The Day 2.5 results in Central territory—neither the process nor the outcome resembles the work of that beast.”

When Lee Mok learned that the border creatures were attacking not the stones of the wall but the unseen force moving them, he had immediately ordered a retreat and split his forces between construction and defense.

“I expected the Central Lord to rush over and sabotage other territories once he understood the rules.”

“That beast would gladly ensure his own downfall if it meant seeing others inconvenienced first.”

Contempt colored Lee Mok’s face.

Then something else surfaced.

“But he did not appear.”

Cold anger.

Irritation.

A hint of unease.

The aide quickly lowered his head.

He must not be caught having seen that expression.

“Not only here,” Lee Mok continued.

“He did not appear in any other Lord’s territory either.”

“Then, my lord, could it be that 13—”

“Entered beneath OZ and commanded Day 2.5.”

“But how could he control that unruly Central—”

Anxiety slipped into someone’s voice.

“Could West Lord Red Count have been involved?”

“You suggest 13 is his spy?”

“Or perhaps 13 has completely left Red Count.”

“If so, we might draw him to our side. In every regard, our faction is superior to Central—”

The room fell silent.

The aide bowed deeply.

“Give the order, my lord.”

Rationally, 13 was both valuable and recruitable.

But Lee Mok was prideful.

“Eliminate him.”

He would not even tolerate the fingertips of something he despised brushing against something he favored.

“Why would I pick up something tainted?”

“My apologies.”

“More importantly. The task I assigned?”

The aide hesitated.

Lee Mok cut him off before he could answer.

“Incompetent.”

“Grant me a little more time, and I will—”

“There are many who can replace you.”

Lee Mok added insult without necessity.

“People are plentiful. But to be this useless. You are no better than trash.”

He rose and walked past.

The aide caught a glimpse of his profile.

It was twisted.

The surroundings were faintly dimmer.

Perhaps evening had fallen.

– Darling~

Hmm.

Even in a snowstorm, there are subtle differences in light. Fascinating.

– Darling?

The mystery of nature—

Forget it. I’m busy. Digging.

– Darling.

Busy.

– Haha, is the connection unstable?

I dig.

I dig only.

Nothing can stop me.

I dig—

– Dear, I changed the greenhouse password. So you’ll have to sleep in the dorm tonight…

You little—

My brain recognized the provocation.

As always, my tongue moved faster.

“Hey, you underhanded bastard!”

I shouted before realizing my mistake.

“Damn it.”

I stabbed the shovel into the ground and used it as a cane to stand.

In irritation, I scratched the side of my head.

Something tapped the back of my hand.

– Haha, darling, finally connected. I was worried sick.

The voice came from there.

I swatted it away.

It fluttered off.

– Haha, darling, so rough. Not that I mind stimulating play, but shouldn’t we cherish each other a bit more?

It returned instantly.

“Step on you?”

– Please cherish fragile butterflies. Small acts of environmental love protect humanity through the butterfly effect.

“……”

– Ouch, okay, I surrender.

I lifted my foot slightly.

Something fluttered and stuck to my cheek.

The jeweled butterfly that had been buzzing near me.

“Why right by my ear? Annoying.”

Mosquito.

– So you can hear me clearly.

“Why do I need to hear you clearly?”

– That’s hurtful.

“I’m busy!”

– Haha, you’re a Lord in name only. No subjects. A wasteland for a territory. What could you possibly be busy with?

Annoying, but the mosquito—no, Caliburn—was correct.

I leaned against the shovel and surveyed my surroundings.

Beyond the distant wall, a snowstorm raged.

Inside the wall, the storm was noticeably weaker.

‘Not gone, but milder.’

Enough to move around in proper clothing.

The same must be true elsewhere.

– Other Lords are surely very busy right now.

“Obviously.”

Day 1 eliminated those without even minimal qualifications.

Day 2 established territories.

Day 2.5 built walls that manifested those territories physically.

“From Day 3 onward, it gets simpler.”

By now, most would realize the rules were surprisingly simple.

“Full-scale land-grabbing begins.”

– Land-grabbing. Who would you attack first?

“Central tundra.”

The butterfly’s wings brushed my cheek.

Why did it feel irritating?

– Haha, Central tundra is—

“OZ’s land.”

– And Dark Count OZ is your item.

“By the way, isn’t that title especially edgy?”

– Which means from Day 3 onward, you’ll draw everyone’s attention.

True.

Easy to distinguish by location and color.

But OZ’s felt particularly…

– Giving up already? You can’t. You have to go back. That much doesn’t violate neutrality, right?

“Who’s giving up?”

– No?

“If I’d given up, I’d be lounging in a warm greenhouse, not freezing out here working!”

Even inside the wall, it was cold.

“I don’t need subjects.”

– Wise. No one would defect to you now anyway.

It was always an unfair game.

Outside power structures largely carried over.

– But you played the edited file. No one usable?

“Someone ambitious? Discontent?”

– Or with a compelling backstory?

“There were.”

– And yet you’re discarding them?

“Not discarding. Using them where appropriate.”

– Just not under you.

Silence.

“Right.”

For once, the mosquito did not pry.

– But if you’re not recruiting, you should prepare to defend the wall.

“I am.”

– You are?

“People aren’t necessary.”

One reason I targeted OZ was his lack of faction.

“What I need is already more than enough.”

More precisely, it would be.

“Hey, mosquito.”

I tossed the shovel.

“Catch.”

No clatter followed.

– Moving?

“Yes.”

– How cold-hearted, my lord. Your land cries in sorrow.

“Shut up.”

– So you’re going to collect that ‘more than enough’?

“Exactly.”

It may look foolish now.

But I think long-term.

“I’ll be late. Don’t look for me.”

– Oh my, declaring an overnight stay so soon?

“It requires concentration. If you buzz beside me, I’ll lose focus. Don’t follow.”

– Haha, so it’s urgent?

I fell silent.

Sharp bastard.

– Going this late means you don’t want to be seen.

Unexpectedly, he agreed.

– Fine. I’ll eat, bathe, and sleep first. Good night, darling.

Too compliant.

Suspicious.

“Got a date?”

– Good night!

The butterfly vanished with a faint electronic click.

I stared at the fading glitter.

“What’s wrong with that bastard?”

Muttering, I resolved to finish quickly and return—

Just to interfere with whatever Caliburn was up to.